Laughing through the Tears: Day 70

Seventy days ago my mother-in-law went to heaven.  Seventy Days!  That's all?  That many?
They say mom's hold the household together.  You think that's not true? Lose the main mom in the family and see what happens.....

My mother-in-law was my mother-in-law for 1116 days, but she was my husband's momma for 12,938 days - that meant she was head mom in our world. She was queen of the know-how and a

true saint when it came to the grandma department.

In the past 70 days I have reluctantly filled her shoes in many ways, but not without tears.  I have cried, I have cried a lot.  I stood in her closet last week looked at her shoes and cried.  I cried because I miss her, I cried because I don't know how to cook like her, I cried because I need her advice, and I cried because she just was who she was.  I then wiped my tears, put on a smile and walked to the other room to only laugh along with my kids and PaPa Tom (my husband's father).

My life, my perfectly well planned life, was turned upside down with new task, new meaning, and new adventures.   I am head mom.  I am the mom of the world. I am the main mom in their world.

I make meatloaf - not good, but I make meatloaf.   I cheer louder.  I balance two checkbooks.  I buy iceberg lettuce and real lettuce (the kind that has nutrients).  I just do for no other reason than that is what needs to be done.

I don't do without laughter.   We cry then we laugh.  We remember then we laugh.  We talk then we laugh.   We laugh because she would have laughed. She is probably laughing at us now!

Dew Drop Inn, Bloomsdale, Missouri.

Hello Yummy food!  We made the drive to Bloomsdale, Missouri to try Dew Drop Inn.  We had heard good reviews, but never had time to stop and try it.  In honor of me getting olderish we made time!   

I would call this place an upscale Tony Keith kinda place - good for families, but a rustic wild side.  

I will say you can make a meal off the Mac n Cheese - holy smokes, I could have licked the bowl.  

PaPa Tom was pleased they had meatloaf as the special of the day, he loves meatloaf. 

I’m not so sure about the kid’s choice of dirty fries - chili in the summer?  They enjoyed them though!  

Check out Dew Drop Inn, Bloomsdale, Missouri - yes it is worth drive.  Tell our waitress Hannah hello, she was so kind!  

Crab & Company, Wappapello Lake, Missouri

This is our second trip to Crab & Company, Wappapello Lake, Missouri - and just as our first visit we were not disappointed.

The food is not what you expect in rural Missouri, instead what you would expect in a port town in the south. Yummy crab, calamari, (yes more than catfish), and shrimp - disclosure due to allergy I have never tasted their shrimp, but my family has.

Like the food, the hospitality is what you would expect in the south. Both times I have visited this establishment they did not know I was a blogger, I never told them I would review their establishment, yet my service was excellent - I prefer surprise visits as it gives me a real picture.

Crab & Company is perfect rather you have been out on the lake all day, family camping, or want a nice place to eat for a night out - it is an establishment for everyone.

Parenting is Exhausting. End of Story.

Many years ago, okay not many, but at least fifteen years ago people would tell me with time it will get easier. She will sleep more, you will have a routine, and you will catch up on sleep.

Those people are liars! 

Fifteen years ago, I was young and I had energy, but then she was born and I never slept again.   I remember all the experienced moms telling me with time you will have a routine and you will catch up on that sleep you were missing. 

Last night I laid in bed and listened to all the chatter happening in the room below me.  I stared at my ceiling and recounted all those people that are LIARS.  Yesterday, I was up at 6 am for one of her "events" and my head finally found my pillow again around 11pm.  

Yes as infants you have to feed, water and change them all hours of the nights.  However, at teenage years you have to chase them, fund them, and they talk back at all hours of the night.  

So to you new moms out there, I will not lie to you.  You will never catch up on your sleep.  Ever!   The days will be long, the nights will be short, and if you ever think you will have money again - HAH!  Good Luck!  

****Disclosure "haters are gonna be haters, if you think that I am complaining about parenting, you are wrong and have landed on the wrong blog.  I am just being honest"  

Hannibal, Missouri Behind my Lens

A few shots from my recent "Girls Trip" to Hannibal, Missouri - beautiful little small-town America destination;  most tours and locations are suitable for children of all ages.

Sunset from the Mark Twain Riverboat Dinner Cruise

Train Bridge over the Mississippi River

Rockcliffe Mansion

Inside Rockcliffe Mansion

Mansion beside Rockliffe Mansion

Inside Mark Twain Cave

Inside Mark Twain Cave

Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse

Becky's House part of the Mark Twain’s boyhood home

View from Lover's Leap

Best Hikes With Kids - St. Louis and Beyond by Kathy Schrenk

(Disclosure:  I was gifted this book for review, however, my thoughts cannot be bought and all opinions are mine.) 

Eighty-two kid friendly hikes just a short distant from St Louis, Missouri - with full graphic maps, tips, and all you need to know about the trip.

Nope, this is not my article, this is the handy book Best Hikes With Kids - St. Louis and Beyond by

Kathy Schrenk.

You know those handy little map brochures that you pick one up at the nature center, carry around for a day, and then shove them in your glove box of your car, and it is ripped to shreds before you can use it again?  Imagine all that compacted in a small book that you can carry around - only add another 81 trails with it.

So I love this little book, yes for real, it is a compact book that is easy store.  The maps are well detailed and Schrenk takes extra time to add in family hiking tips - rather to use strollers, if the trail is easy for toddlers, bathroom availability, and which season is best to visit the hiking trails.

Have you ever heard of Howell Island Conservation Area?  Did you know that Howell Island Conservation Area has a 3.9 mile loop that is jogging stroller accessible?  Me either!  That is this entire book - full of hiking trails that are rarely known and very close to the St. Louis, Missouri area.

You can get your own copy of Best Hikes With Kids - St. Louis and Beyond by Kathy Schrenk by following this link.

Bittersweet of Chaos and an Unexpected Change of Plans

Over the past two months I have been bracing myself to be traveling a large part of the summer for

work.  Two Friday's past just hours before the end of the work day and two days before I left for my

first work trip I received notice that my trip was cancelled and they were unsure about the rest of my work trips for the summer - the following Wednesday I was informed those trips were also cancelled with no notice of when they would be rescheduled.

Knowing the juggling act I had performed making arrangements for myself, my family, and those that depend on me - I became angry.  I sulked, I spouted off negative comments, and I was frustrated at the situation.  Yes, not traveling would be more convenient for me, but I prefer my life organized, so I was bitter.  

Today, in the ladies restroom at church, a wise woman that has taken special interest in my life asked about the upcoming chaos of the travel I had been preparing for - as I explained that everything had been cancelled and I was unsure when or if it would be scheduled - she could hear the frustration in my voice (it was still there).  She said "Ya know, God has a better appointment for you this week, you just watch and see".

I have no clue what God has in store for me this week, but those words were a sweet reminder that he is still in control of my life work trip or not.